Cattle feed conveying and dispensing apparatus



Oct. 28, 1952 J. G. SPICKL ER CATTLE FEED CONVEYING AND DISPENSINGAPPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. '7, 1946 Jase W 5 mu m 1. 1n

Oct. 28, 1952 .1. G. SPICKLER 2,615,424

CATTLE FEED CONVEYING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 7, 1946 6Sheets-Sheet 3 I Joseph Oct. 28,1952 J. G. SPICKLER CATTLE FEEDCONVEYING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 7, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 4Jose ph SpicZZZev Oct. 28, 1952 J. a. SPICKLER CATTLE FEED CONVEYING ANDDISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Nov. '7, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jqseph SpickleOct. 28, 1952 J. G. SPICKLER 2,615,424

CATTLE FEED CONVEYING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 FiledNov. 7, 1946 r k a w CW 6 w I w m J wmww Q aw 3 0* OW NW N m O H U Hm @N.m mN .3 Q Q mm 3 a m\ w n m n. w

Patented Oct. 28, 1952 CATTLE FEED CONVEYING. AND

-DISPENSING APPARATUS Joseph G. Spickler, Rockford, 111., assignor offour-fifths to Taylor E. Decker, Rockford, Ill.

Application November 7, 1946, Serial No. 708,228

25 Claims. (01. 119 51) This invention relates to cattle feed conveyinand dispensing apparatus.

The hauling of ensilage in buckets from the silo to the numerous stallsin a barn isgenerally regarded as one of the most tedious and monotonouschores that a farmer is called upon to perform, especially at the end ofa hard day's work. I am aware that there have been. some efforts to finda solution to this problem by specially designing and arranging the barnor barns relative to the silo, but generally this reduced the labor verylittle in relation to thelarge cash outlay andoffered no relief at allfor farms with existing barns, unless expensive remodeling wasundertaken. A few conveyors were suggested but they were makeshifts andnot of a practical design, some of these still calling for manual laborin their operation. It is, therefore, the principal object of myinvention to provide a cattle feed conveying and dispensing apparatusthat is power operable and semi-automaticin operation, requiring onlythe manual operation of a push button to start it. j

A salient feature of my conveying and dispensing apparatus is theprovision of a plurality .of conveyor buckets *on an endless conveyorbelt or chain operating lengthwise of an-aisle between two rows ofstalls, the chain being so supported and arranged relative to a supplyplatform that the buckets will beautomatically filled by scooping theensilage or other'feed from the platform, the buckets being hinged tocarriers so as to permit dumping the feed automatically when the bucketsarrive at their destinations, and the carriers beingswivelled onsupports on the chain and arranged to be automatically turned to theright or left hand row of stalls after filling and before dumping. Thecontrol mechanism is pref erably substantially entirely electrical sothat the operation of one button sets; the apparatus into operationfor-feeding the cattle in one row of stalls and, when that is completed,the apparatus stops automatically. There. remains only the pressing ofanother buttontoset the apparatus into operation again to feedthe cattlein the other row of stalls. Buckets being individual to stalls, it isobviously possible tovary the feeding according to the needs of thecattle, as by variations in the sizes of buckets or by using one size indumping thefeed into the .means being operable by electricalsolenoids-when the conveyor, reaches a predetermined position and stops.The buckets 'aremeehanically re turned automatically to the latchedposition' in the travel of the conveyor as the buckets move;

from the upper flight to the lower flight.

In the accompanying drawings: f Fig. 1 is a view including a partiallongitudinal section through a barn equipped with a feedplatform andaconveying and dispensingiapparatus in accordance with my invention; I

Fig. 2 is a plan view" of said'apparatus.

larger scale; a

Fig. 3 is a cross-section through said apparatus approximately on lineof' Flig. 2 3 on '.a larger scale and showing. a bucket in released;.or

dumping position and showing the driven shaftat one end of the frameFig. 4 is an electric wiring diagram;

5 is an enlarged la View of the. swat.-

Fig. 7 is an end view of Fig. 2', takenfromthe right hand end, andshowing the parts on the same scale as'in Fig. 3, and

Fig. 8 is aside view of the apparatus similar to Fig. 1, but showing theuse ofatwo seriesof buckets, one of which series is intended for, one

row of stalls and is on the upper flight wherikthe.

other series, intended for the otherfrow of stalls, is on the lowerflight. v

Similar reference numerals are applied to an responding parts throughoutthe views.-.

Referring to Fig. 1, the reference numerals designates the barn andi thesilo. nearby jfn feed platform 1 is provided in ECCOIddnCQWith myinvention below the chute 8 ofv the silo and extends to one end of theaisle 9 provide'djlih the barn between themanger ends of two rows ofstalls 10 and H, for which stanchions arei'indicated at [2 in Fig. 3.These stanchions l2 are omitted in Figs. 1 and 2 to avoid confusion. I

The platform I will be enclosed, as indicatedat' l3, forprotecti0nfromthe weather. The'ensilage from thesilo comes .down' the{chute 8 5 .onto the platform 1 and an endless-power-op- .eratedconveyor I 4" that is driven. with lessv chain type conveyor l5 mangers/ The buckets are spring-pressed toward-the dumping position andlatched in retracted position for picking up and conveying the feed, thelatch the buckets I9 will pick it up, and when the conveyor I stops, ashereinafter described, the conveyor I4 also stops. The conveyor i=5,which provides upper and lower horizontal flights, one or both of whichmay carry buckets I9, is driven by an electric motor 20 through areduction gear box R and thence through a chain and sprocket connection.indicated at 2|.

The buckets I9 are hinged under their front ends, as indicated at 22-,on carrier frames 23 which in turn are swivelled, as indicated at 24, onsupports 25 that are attached to the conveyor I5. The conveyor I5 servesmerely to pull the buckets; the buckets are supported by rollers 26providedon the ends of the supports 25 run ning in channel-shaped tracks27 that extend lengthwise-of thetop of the frame I8 and are suitablysupported on brackets 28, as shown in :Fig. 3. Other channel-shapedtracks 29 extend lengthwise of the frame I8 below the tracks 27 and aresuitably supported on brackets 35, these tracks receiving the rollers 26for support of the empty buckets in their movement along the lowerflight of the conveyor 15. There are slotted arouate links 3i pivoted at32 to the carrier frames 23 and receiving trunnions 33 that project fromthe opposite sides of the buckets ill to limit the dumping movement ofthe buckets. Heavy'grass- .hop'per type torsionsprings 34 which havetheir 1c'oiled"portions 35 mounted on the hinge pins 22 and have theirtangentially extending end portions 35 bearing against the carrie'rframes 23 and against the bottom' of the buckets I9 serve to raise thebuckets abruptly to the dumping position, shown in Fig. 3, when thelatches 31' that are pivoted at 58 on the carrier frames 23 are actuatedby solenoids 39 to retracted positions relative to projections 45provided on the backs of the buckets. As will soonappear,

the solenoids 39 are automatically energized when the conveyor I 5reaches a predetermined position for the dumping of the buckets at whichtime the motor is stopped. [When the conveyor I5 is stoppedautomaticallyby -the projection 68 engaging one or the other of the two limitswitches 66 and 61, the buckets I9 are disposed adjacent and facing therespective stalls II] or II. as the case maybe, so that the feed will bedumped into the manger 4i.

The buckets I9 are arranged to be automatically turned on their pivots24 to the right or left todispensefeed to stalls H) or I I. "There aretwo push button switches 42 and 43 (Fig. 4) the depression of either ofwhich is arranged to start the motor 251:0 move the conveyor I5.

through a :cycle of filling the buckets Ill and dumping the contents; Aswill soon appear, when the conveyor 15 has completed a cycle asfa'result of depression of switch 42, the conveyor can be put throughthe next cycle'only by depression of switch43, and vice versa. Thepivots 24 for the buckets have cranks 44 rigid therewith on the outerends of which are roller bearing crank pins45 arranged to run in achannelshaped track 46 extending lengthwise of the in- 4 coming endportion of the frame I8 and suitably supported on extensions of thebrackets 28. A switch blade 41 pivotally mounted at 48 on the entranceend of the double-track structure has a forked tail portion 49cooperating with solenoids 56 and 51 to permit throwing the switch il tothe left or right and accordingly direct the crank pin 35 to either oftwo branch tracks 52 and 53 that extend in parallel relation lengthwiseof the frame i8 between the incoming track 46 and an outgoing track 54that extends lengthwise of the other end portion ll of the frame I8. Thebuckets [9 are turned to face thestalls I0 when the crank pins 45 are inthe track 52, but they are turned the other way to face the stalls I Iwhen the crank pins 45 are in track 53. Pins 55 extending downwardlyfrom the carrier frame 23 through arouate slots 55 in the supports 25.are arranged to strike either one of two cams 5'! that project slightlyabove the plane of the tracks 52 and 53 at the outgoing end, as bestappears in Fig. 6, to turn the buckets in a clockwise orcounterclockwise direction; as the case may be, by engagement with thepins 55, and move the crank pins 45 into the outgoing track 54 inleading relation to the pins 55. Ahe outgoing track 54 is connected by adownwardly curved portion 12 with another middle track 58 that extendslengthwise of the frame I8 midway between the tracks 29 to guide thecrank pins 45 for straight-line movement the full length of the frameI8- back'to the incoming track 46, the other end portion of the singletrack 58 being connected by an upwardly curved portion 73 with thesingle track 46 previously mentioned-the track 58 being connected at itsends 12 and 13 to the tracks 45 and 54 on arcs concentric with theshafts 59 and 50. In actual practice all of the buckets I9 will bedisposed with their crank pins 45 in either of the branches 52 and 53when the conveyor I5 stops for the dumping of the feed from the buckets,and that is the reason I have shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2 onlythose buckets which are disposed between the end track sections 48 and54 and have shown the others in dottedlines. On the other hand, I mayprovide one set of buckets I9 for the stalls Ill, marked A in Fig. 8,and another set of buckets IQ for the stalls II, marked B in Fig. 8, theone set A being'on the upper flight a of the conveyor I5 while the'otherset B is on the lower flight b. An advantage obtained'by such anarrangement is that then there is'one individual bucket for each stalland the buckets may be made of different capacities or may have fillerblocks like those indicated in dotted lines at 5i and 62 in Fig. 2 andin full lines in Fig. '8, fastened in one end or across the back on theinside of the buckets to change the capacity to suit the differentcowsto be fed, the -socalled heavy milkers being given the larger portions.The buckets I9 after they have been dumped by electro-magneticoperationof their latches 31 have to be returned to their normal retractedpositions and latched again before they can be refilled, and for thatpurpose I provide projecting brackets 53 on the lower portion of theoutgoing end of the frame [8, the buckets I9 being cammed by slidingmovement of their curved edge portions 64 overthe bracket 63 as thebuckets move downwardly and then inwardly in go ing from the upperflight to the lower fiight of the conveyor I5. In this return movementand If desired,

strips of sound deadening-material 65 may be attached to one end of thecarrier frames 23' for engagement with the open end portions ofathebuckets I 9 in the dumpingthereof so'that'the operation will not be toonoisy.

Referring to the Wiring diagram in Fig. 4, there are two forkedlimitswitches 66 and 61 which arefnormally held in the full line positions,but are arranged'to be moved by a projection 68 on the support 25 of thefirst-bucket of a plurality of #bucketsto the dotted line positionindicated for switch 66, when the conveyor has been moved far-enough toposition all of the buckets in front of the appropriate stalls,'wherebyto break the circuit for the motor 29 to stop'the conveyor 15 and'at thesame time complete the circuit through the solenoids 39 torelease thelatches 31 anddump the buckets and also energize the solenoid 50' tomov'e the switch 41 to its other extreme. 'This'is at the end "of acycle. Now, assuming, let us say, that the cycle was started by theclosing of switch 42 and ended by the operation -ofswitch 66 justdescribed, the operator can by closing switch 43 start another cycle toconvey and dispense feed to the other row of stalls by closing switch43, the motor 20in thatevent having its circuit completed through theswitch 51 and continuing to operate until a projection 68 on the firstof the other series of buckets or on the first of the same series ofbuckets, depending upon whether two series or one series of buckets isprovided, as previously mentioned, operates the switch 61 to open the'motor' circuit and close the circuit through the related solenoids 39and solenoid I. The limit switches 66 and 61 may be of any conventionaltype which are normally in one position under spring pressure or actionof gravity, as indicated in full lines in Fig. 4, but arrangedto bemoved by the projection 68 to the other extreme position for switch 66,indicated in dotted'lines in Fig. 4, the projection 68 moving withthe'pivotal support 23 to operate the one switch 66 at the limit ofmovement when the buckets are facing in one direction, and to operatethe switchG'I at the limit of movement when'the buckets are facingv inthe other direction, the projection 68 on each bucket moving in anarcuate slot 68' provided therefor in the bar 25, similarly as in thecase of pins 55 working in slots 56. The pins 68 being shorter than thepins 55 clear the tops of .the cams 51 and do not interfere with thepins '55 ridingon the inclined inner side face of one or the other ofsaid cams. Assuming then that "thecows in both'rows of stalls have beenfed, a :main line switch 69 can now be opened so as to avoid uselesspower consumption and any possible fire hazard. Of course, thermallyoperated time delay type of automatic cut-out switches, like thatindicated at I4 in Fig. 4, are commonly provided in such circuits tobreak the'circuit automatically in the event the operator forgets toopen the main switch 69.

,'I n operation, to start the first cycle, the operator closes the mainswitch 69 and then presses button 42 to start the motor 20. The switch41 having been left in the position shown in Fig. 4 as a result of theenergization of the solenoid 5I, will direct the buckets I9 to the righttrack 52 to dispense feed to the stalls I0. Then the firstbucket of theplurality of buckets opens the switch 66 and breaks the circuit of motor20 and at the same time closes the circuit for the one set of solenoids39 that is connected in parallel with the solenoid 50, whereby to dumpthe buckets- I9 and at the same timerthrow the switch tc the right,namely, adjacent solenoidi 50. When the operator presses button t3, anew cycle is started through the switch 67 and the motor 29 operates tomove the series of buckets I9 along the track 53 so as to dispense feedto the stalls II. The switch Iil 'is operated by the projection 68 whenthe foremost bucket of the series reaches a predetermined positionadjacent the endmost stall II, in which all of'the buckets are arrangedin register with the. associated stalls,lthereby stoppingthe motor 20and completing a circuit simultaneouslythrough the solenoids 39 that areconnectedin'parallelwith the solenoid 5|, whereby'to dump-thebuckets I9and at the same time throwthe switch 41 back to the first position,.namely, adjacent solenoid 50. The main switch 69 "can then be opened inasmuch as the stalls in both rows havebeen servicd. l- .'I.,:

It is believed the foregoing.descriptionfconveys a good understandingofthe objects "andadvantages of my invention." The appended claims havebeen drawn to cover'all legitimate modifications and adaptations. 1 Iclaim: 1. The combination with two spaced rows of stalls," of anelongated frame extending lengthwise of the space between the rowsyanendless conveyor on said frame, buckets spaced length wise of andcarriedon said conveyon-suppbrts for said buckets pivoted relative tothe conveyor whereby said buckets are adapted to face toward eitherrow'of stalls, said supports having the buckets hinged thereto to dumptheir-contents into said stalls, power means for operating saidconveyor, means on the frame relative to which the conveyoris movablearranged to engage parts fixed relative to said s'upportsto turn thebuckets on the pivotsQmeans for raising the buckets on their hingesrelative to their supports to dump'the' contents, and means fordelivering feed to the buckets.

' 2; The combination with a row of stalls, of an elongated frameextending lengthwise of the row, an endless conveyoron said frame,bucketsspaced lengthwise of and carried on said conveyor, supports forsaid buckets pivoted relative to the conveyor whereby said buckets areadapted to be turned to face the stalls, said supports having thebuckets hinged thereto to dump their contents into said stalls, powermeans for operating said conveyor, means on the frame relative towhich'the conveyor is movable arranged to engage parts fixed relative tosaid supports tOj'tllI'Il the buckets on the pivots, means for raisingthe buckets on their hinges relative to their supports to dump thecontents, and means for delivering feed to the buckets.

3. Theeombinationwith two spaced rows of stalls, of-an elongated frameextending lengthwise of the space between the rows, an endless conveyoron said frame, buckets spaced lengthwise of and carried on saidconveyoT,supports for said buckets pivoted relative to the conveyor whereby saidbuckets are adapted to face toward either row of'stalls, saidsupportshaving' the buckets hinged thereto to dump their con tents intosaid stalls, power means for operating said conveyor, means on the framerelative to which the conveyor is movable arranged to enhinges relativeto said supports to dump the con-' tents, latch means releasably lockingthe buckets in lowered position relative to said supports, means forreleasing the'latch means when the buckets are disposed adjacent thestalls and turned'to face the same, means on the frame slidablyengageable by said buckets in the movement of the conveyor relative tothe frame for mechanically returning the buckets to latched position,and means for delivering feed to the buckets.

4. The combinationiwith, a row of stalls, of an elongated frameextending lengthwise of the row, an endless conveyor on said frame,buckets spaced lengthwise of and carried on said conveyor, supports forsaid buckets pivoted relative to the conveyor whereby said buckets areadapted to be turned to face the stalls, said supports having thebuckets hinged thereto to dump their contents into said stalls, powermeans for operating said conveyor, means on the frame relative to whichthe conveyor is movable arranged to engage parts fixed relative to saidsupports to turn the buckets on the pivots, spring means normallytending to swing the buckets upwardly on their hinges relative to saidsupports" to dump the contents, latch means releasably locking thebuckets in lowered position relative to said supports, means forreleasing the latch means when the buckets are disposed adjacent thestalls and turned to face the same, means on the frame slidablyengageable by said buckets in the movement of the conveyor relative tothe frame for mechanically returning the buckets to latched position,and means for delivering feed to the buckets. 1

5. The combination with a row of stalls, of an elongated frame extendinglengthwise of the row, an endless conveyor on said frame, buckets spacedlengthwise of and carried on said conveyor, supports for said buckets onsaid conveyor relative to which said buckets are hinged to dump thebuckets contents into said stalls, power means for operating saidconveyor, means for raising the buckets on their hinges relative to thesupports to dumping position, and means for deliverin feed to thebuckets.

6. The combination with-a row of stalls, of an elongated frame extendinglengthwise of the row, an endless conveyor on said frame, buckets spacedlengthwise of and carried on said conveyor, supports for said buckets onsaid conveyor relative to which said buckets are hinged to dump thebuckets contents into said stalls, power means for operating saidconveyor, spring means normally tending to swing the buckets upwardly ontheir hinges relative to said supports to dump the contents, latch meansreleasably locking the buckets in lowered position relative to saidsupports, means for releasing the latch means when the buckets aredisposed adjacent the stalls,

means on the frame slidably engageable, by, said buckets in the movementof the conveyor relative to the frame for mechanically returning thebuckets to latched position, and means for delivering feed to thebuckets. 1

'1. The combination with two spaced rows of stalls, of an elongatedframe extending length,- wise of the space between the rows, an. endlessconveyor on said frame, buckets spaced lengthwise of and carried on saidconveyor, supports for said buckets pivoted relative to the conveyorwhereby said buckets are adapted to face toward either row of stalls,said supports having ,the buckets hinged thereto to dump their contentsinto said stalls, power means for operating said conveyor, a crank inrigid relationship to each support on the pivotal axis thereofadapted-to turn the bucket toward either row of stalls, :said crankshaving pins projecting therefrom, a-pair of spaced parallel guide tracksextending lengthwiselof said frame on diametrically opposite sides ofthe pivotal axes of said buckets in either of which the pins on saidcranks are adapted to slide when the buckets move with the uppertfiightof the conveyor, 2, single guide track extending lengthwise of the frameon the longitudinal cene ter-line in which the pins are adapted to slidewhen the buckets move with the lower flight of the conveyor, saidbuckets facing all in one direction during the latter travel and beingadapted to scoop up feed in the movement thereof with the conveyor fromthe lower :fiight to the upper night at one end of said frame, thelast,mentioned guide track having extensions at the opposite ends ofsaid frame connected with ,the opposite end portions of the firstmentioned guide tracks, a mechanical switch means at the. one junctionof said guide tracks, the position of which determines the direction thebuckets are turned as a, result of the sliding of the crank pins intoone or the other of the first mentioned pair of guide tracks, means forraising the bucketson their hinges relative to their supports to dumpthe contents, and means for delivering feed to a scoop-up station at oneend of said frame.

8. The combination set forth in claim 7,-wherein the means for raisingthe buckets on their hinges relative to the supports to dump thecontents comprises spring means normally urging the buckets to a,dumping position, the combination including latch means for releasablylocking the buckets in retracted position relative to their supports,means to release the latch means when the buckets are disposed adjacentthe stalls, and means on the frame slidably engageable by said bucketsin the movement of the conveyor for mechanically returning the bucketsto latched position.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the power means for operating said con veyor comprises anelectric motor having an electrical circuit therefor including amanually operable switch for starting the motor, and other switch meansin the circuit for automatically stopping the motor at the end of acycle of movement of the conveyor.

10. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein the power means foroperating .saidconveyor comprises an electric motor having anelectricalcircuit therefor including a manually operable switch for starting themotor, and other switch means in the circuit for automatically stoppingthe motor at the end of a cycle of movement of the conveyor.

11. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein the power means foroperating said conveyor comprises an electric motor having an electricalcircuit therefor-including amanually operable switch for starting themotor, and other switch means in the circuit for automatically stoppingthe motor at the end of a cycle of movement of the conveyor, the meansfor raising the buckets to dumping position including electrical means,the circuits for which are interconnected with the motor circuit so asto be operative upon stoppage of the motor at theend of the cycleofmovement of the conveyon I 12. The combination set forth in claim :2,wherein the power means for operating said con-Q veyor comprises anelectric motor having an elec-'- trical circuit therefor including amanually operable switch for starting the motor, and other switch meansin the circuit for automatically stopping the motor at the end of acycle of movement of the conveyor, the means for raising the buckets todumping position including electrical means, the circuits for which areinterconnected with the motor circuit so as to be operative uponstoppage of the motor at the end of the cycle of movement of theconveyor.

13. The combination set forth in claim '7, wherein the power means foroperating said conveyor comprises an electric motor having an electricalcircuit therefor including a manually operable switch for starting themotor, and other switch means in the circuit for automatically stoppingthe motor at the end of a cycle of move-- ment of the conveyor.

14. The combination set forth in claim 7, wherein the power means foroperating said conveyor comprises an electric motor having an electricalcircuit therefor including a manually operable switch for starting themotor, and other switch means in the circuit for automatically stoppingthe motor at the end of a cycle of movement of the conveyor, the meansfor raising the buckets to dumping position including electrical means,the circuits for which are interconnected with the motor circuit so asto be operative upon stoppage of the motor at the end of the cycle ofmovement of the conveyor. f

15. The combination set forth in claim '7,

wherein the power means for operating said conveyor comprises anelectric motor having an electrical circuit therefor including amanually operable switch for starting the motor, and other switch meansin the circuit for automatically stopping the motor at the endof a cycleof movement of the conveyor, the combination including electrical meansfor operating the mechanical switch, said electrical means havingthe'electrical circuit therefor connected with the motor circuit so asto operate the switch from one extreme-position to the other uponstoppage of the motor at the end of the cycle of movement of theconveyor.

16. In combination, a barn containing two spaced rows of stalls forcattle, an elongated frame extending lengthwise of the space between therows, an endless conveyor on said frame, buckets spaced lengthwise ofand carried on said conveyor, supports for said buckets pivoted relativeto the conveyor whereby said buckets are adapted to face toward. eitherrow of stalls, said supports having the buckets hinged thereto to dumptheir contents into said stalls, power means for operating saidconveyor, means on the frame relative to which the conveyor is movablearranged to engage parts fixed relative to said supports to turn thebuckets on the pivots, means for raising the buckets on their hingesrelative to their supports to dump the contents, a silo containingensilage, an ensilage conveyor extending from the silo to a scoop-upstation at one end of said frame where the ensilage is piled so that thebuckets will scoop it up in passing said station, and means connectingthe ensilage conveyor with the bucket conveyor to run in unison.

1'7. In combination, a barn containing a row of stalls for cattle, anelongated frame extending lengthwise of the row, an endless conveyor onsaid frame, buckets spaced lengthwise of and carried on said conveyor,supports for said buckets pivoted relative to the conveyor whereby said10 buckets are adapted to be turned to face the stalls, said supportshaving the buckets hinged thereto to dump their contents into saidstalls, power means for operating said conveyor, means on the framerelative to which conveyor is movable arranged to engage parts fixedrelative to said supports to turn the buckets on the pivots, means forraising the buckets on their hinges relative to their supports to dumpthe contents, a silo containing ensilage, an ensilage conveyor extendingfrom the silo to a scoop-up station at one end of said frame'where theensilage is piled so that the buckets will scoop it up in passing saidstation, and means connecting theensilage conveyor with the bucketconveyor to' run in unison. V r

18. In combination, a barn containing two spaced rows ofstalls forcattle, an elongated frame extending lengthwise of the space between therows, an endless conveyor on said frame, buckets spaced lengthwise ofand carried on said conveyor, supports for said buckets pivoted relativeto the conveyor whereby said buckets are adapted to face toward eitherrow of stalls, said supports having the buckets hinged thereto to dumptheir contents into said stalls, power means for operating saidconveyor, means on the frame relative to which the conveyor i movablearranged to engage parts fixed relative to said supports to turn thebuckets on the pivots, spring means normally tending to swing thebuckets upwardly on their hinges relative to said supports to dump thecontents, latch means releasably locking the buckets in lowered positionrelative to said supports, means for releasing the latch means when thebuckets are disposed adjacent the stalls'and turnedto face the same,means on the frame slidably engageable by said buckets in the movementof the .conveyor relative to the frame for mechanically returning thebuckets to latched position, a silo containing ensilage, an ensilageconveyor extending from the silo to a scoop-up station at one end ofsaid frame where the ensilage is piled so that'the buckets Will scoopit' up in passing said station, and means connecting the ensilageconveyor with the bucket conveyor to run in unison.

19. In combination, a barn containing a row of stalls for cattle, anelongated frame extending lengthwise of the row, an endless conveyor onsaid frame, buckets spaced lengthwise of and carried on said conveyor,supports for said buckets pivoted relative to the conveyor whereby saidbuckets are adapted to be turned to face the stalls, said supportshaving the buckets hinged thereto to dump their contents into saidstalls, power means for operating said conveyor, means on the framerelative to which the conveyor is movable arranged to engage parts fixedrelative said supports to turn the buckets on the pivots, spring meansnormally tending to swing the buckets upwardly on their hinges relativeto said supports to dump the contents-latch means releasably locking thebuckets in lowered position relative to said supports, means forreleasing the latch means when the buckets are disposed adjacent thestalls and turned to face the same, means on the frame slidablyengageable by said buckets in the movement of the conveyor relative tothe frame for mechanically returning the buckets to latched position, asilo containing ensilage, an ensilage conveyor extending from the siloto a scoop-up station at one end of said frame where the ensilage ispiled so that the buckets will 'scoop it up in passing said station, andmeans connecting the ensilage conveyor with'the bucket conveyor to runin unison.

of animals known to occupy those stalls, and the remaining buckets beingassociated with the other row of stalls and including buckets individualto the stalls of that row, the capacities of the buckets being differentto suit the feeding needs of animals known to occupy those stalls.

21. The combination set forth in claim .1, wherein the buckets are intwo series, the one series being on the upper flight when the otherseries is on the lower flight of said conveyor, and

.vice versa, the one series being arranged to face the one row of stallsincluding buckets individual to the stalls of that row, the capacitiesof the buckets being different to suit the feeding needs of animalsknown'to occupy those stalls, and the remaining buckets being associatedwith .the other row of stalls and including buckets individual to thestalls of that row, the capacities of the buckets being different tosuit the feeding needs of animals known to occupy those stalls, thebuckets-of both series being of substantially the same size but certainbuckets having filler means therein to diminish the capacity thereof tosuit the smaller feeding needs of the various animals.

22. .The combination set forth in claim .16, wherein the buckets are intwo series, the one series being on the upper flight when the otherseries is on the lower flight of said conveyor, and vice versa, the oneseries being arranged to face the one row of stalls including bucketsindividual to the stalls of that row, the capacities of the bucketsbeing different to suit the feeding needs of animals known to occupythose stalls, and the remaining buckets being associated with the otherrow of stalls and including buckets individual to the stalls of thatrow, the capacities of'the buckets being different to suit'the feedingneeds of animals known to occupy those stalls.

23. The combination set forth in claim 16. wherein the buckets are intwo series, the .one series being on the upper flight when the otherseries is on the lower flight of said conveyor, and vice versa, the oneseries being arranged to face the one row of stalls including bucketsindividual to the stalls of that row, the capacities of the bucketsbeing different to suit the feeding needs of animals known to occupythose stalls, and the remaining buckets being associated with the otherrow of stalls and including buckets individual to the stalls of thatrow, the capacities of the buckets being difierent to suit the feedingneeds of animals known to occupy those stalls, the buckets of bothseries being of substantially the same size but certain buckets havingfiller means therein to diminish the capacity thereof to suit thesmaller feeding needs of the various animals.

24. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein the series of bucketsincludes buckets individual to the several stalls, the capacities of thebuckets being different to suit the feeding needs of animals known tooccupy the stalls.

25. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein the series of bucketsincludes buckets individual to the several stalls, the capacities of thebuckets being different to suit the feeding needs of animals known tooccupy the stalls, the buckets of both series being of substantially thesame size but certain buckets having filler means therein to diminishthe capacity thereof to suit the smaller feeding needs of the variousanimals.

JOSEPH G. SPICKLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,186,444 Schuchardt June 6, 19162,092,440 Cain s- Sept. 7, 1937 2,344,596 Carmina Mar. 21, 1944

